Stories on clay - British artist, Gail Altschuler

​Gail Altschuler is a ceramic artist from South Africa, who works from her home/studio in North London, England, UK. She was one of the first online students of TeachinArt and completed the understanding porcelain e-course in August of 2014.

​Drawing inspiration from sketchbook observations of life. Gail’s ceramic work is illustrated with her line drawings of people, plants and images from art history. "A picture says more than 1,000 words".

"I have done ceramics since the age of 15. I always loved working with clay, but I also wanted to learn to draw and paint and gain a substantial knowledge of art history. 

So, I studied art and design, fine art and history of art. I teach drawing, painting and hand-built ceramics and I have owned a kiln for 13 years. I have worked with porcelain for four to five years now but with other stoneware and earthenware clays for a lot longer."

Building her pieces by hand, in porcelain she fires them to 1220ºC. The process involves using many graphic procedures, combing Mishima, inlay techniques, with sgraffito and coloured washes, all under a transparent glaze. Porcelain mimics the whiteness of paper revealing the crisp lines with a sharp, vividness that she enjoys.
Gail first became interested in ceramics while a school student. She studied Art and Design, Fine Art, History of Art and has an MA is Art and Design Education. She has taught ceramics, art and art history to adults, teens and children.

Gail worked with art curators and art consultants creating colourful abstract monoprint silkscreens for many years, which were used in hotels and offices. Her work is widely exhibited across the UK and abroad, including in Japan, the USA and South Africa. 

​“I aim to blur the lines between Fine Art and Ceramic Craft. I use clay and porcelain, as my canvas, creating sculptural slab-built vessels and illustrated plates. The themes include masks from different cultures, musicians, at the café, at the beach, at the Met
and conversations across time.” – Gail Altschuler

​Recent Exhibitions
2021 Selected member of the Craft Potters Association
Selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
Exhibiting at Silson Contemporary Art, Harrogate
Exhibited at Fillingdon Fine Art High Wycombe
Selected for the ‘Figurative Art Now’, Mall Galleries, FBA, online exhibition

Links:
Understanding porcelain online workshop by Antoinette Badenhorst.
Online workshops at TeachinArt.